SENATE, No. 2018

By Ms. Wilkerson, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2018) of Dianne Wilkerson and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation relative to authorizing certain veterans of the United States military to obtain care and treatment at the world veterans association's health care and maintenance facility. Veterans and Federal Affairs

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

In the Year Two Thousand and Five.

AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN VETERANS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TO OBTAIN CARE AND TREATMENT AT THE WORLD VETERANS ASSOCIATION'S HEALTH CARE AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting

after section 4K the following section:-                                                                                             

Section 4L.  A group health maintenance contract shall provide coverage to a member who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, as defined in clause Forty-third of section seven of chapter four, or is a current member of the United States Armed Forces, for the following services provided by the World Veterans Association’s Health Care and Maintenance Facility:-

(a)              screening and education for the following diseases or conditions: 

(i)               colon cancer; 

(ii)              prostate cancer;

(iii)              lung cancer;

(iv)             diabetes;

(v)              hypertension;

(vi)              cardiovascular disorders;

(vii)             lymphoma

(viii)            leukemia and other cancer related illnesses;

(ix)             blood disorders;

(x)              HIV/AIDS; and other sexually transmitted diseases;

(xi)              Service related conditions including, but not limited to Agent Orange Syndrome and Gulf War Syndrome; 

(xii)             addictive material problems including, but not    limited to: alcohol and tobacco;

(xiii)            breast cancer;

(xiv)            uterine cancer;

(xv)            ovarian cancer;

(xvi)            neuro-psychotic disorder;

(xvii)           dermatologic malignancies;

(xviii)          low vision disorders;

(xix)            reduced vision disorder;

(xx)            orthopedic dysfunction, and any other appropriate medical conditions;

Section 2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any special or general law to the contrary, a person who is a veteran of the United States Armed Forces as defined in clause        Forty-third of section seven of chapter four, or is a current member of the United States Armed Forces and who is a member of a health maintenance organization may obtain treatment for the conditions specified in section 4L of chapter 176G of the General Laws at the World Veterans Association’s Health Care and Maintenance Facility.